Big I
4 posts
Nov 29, 2013
5:00 PM
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I really like bluegrass music. I am learning harmonica by ear. Is trying to sound like the fiddle a wrong a approach to take.
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Big I
5 posts
Nov 29, 2013
5:12 PM
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That's good to know. That's what I have been doing and wanted to make sure I wasn't creating bad habits.
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root
10 posts
Nov 29, 2013
5:34 PM
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Half-valved harps are great for playing bluegrass tunes. It's easier to get those slides so common to bluegrass fiddle tunes.-Greg
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GMaj7
310 posts
Nov 29, 2013
9:38 PM
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Fiddle on the harp is great.. There are some really good players out there who have it mastered and their work has inspired innovation in both music and instrumentation. Brendan Powers does some great Irish/Celtic stuff and of course Buddy Greene does some great stuff, too.
Sandy Weltman has some great fiddle tune lessons available online including a great one on Old Joe Clark.
David Nadaitch kicks it on fiddle tunes on the chromatic like nobody else..
Good thread and I agree with root on half-valved harps being great for speed playing. I'm working up OBS on a PT Seydel..
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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Big I
6 posts
Nov 30, 2013
4:44 AM
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So if I want to mainly play bluegrass then the half valved is what I should get? I have been playing mostly in second position. Will I have to change what I have been doing in that position?
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GMaj7
311 posts
Nov 30, 2013
4:55 AM
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If you want to play fiddle tunes, you should play what works best for you. Experimentation not only helps you get you to where you want to be but it also expands your musical horizon. Half-valved helps because it does seem to allow players to achieve faster runs and the extra bending capabilities provide options on some of the more important notes found in fiddle tunes.
However, alternate tuning also works. Country tuning gives you the major 7th in 2nd position which is very common in swing and C&W tunes. Irish tunes rely heavily on a modal sound that is much easier to get with Paddy Richter tuning.
Both Paddy Richter & Country tuning - as well as Melody Maker which combines the two - work great for 2nd position fiddle tunes. However, you can get the same notes by going to 1st position.
Check out my web site for various options and explanations.
Feel free to email me directly for more specific questions and options.
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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Sarge
367 posts
Nov 30, 2013
5:57 AM
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The harmonica is often referred to as the poor man's fiddle. Are you tongue blocking?
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Wisdom does not always come with old age. Sometimes old age arrives alone.
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BC
8 posts
Nov 30, 2013
6:23 AM
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PT Gazelle is having a weekend sale on his customized Seydel half valved harmonicas. He had posted his info in this forum.
Check out the link below
http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=33fd9ebfd83490ecc2d9401f9&id=
I've not gotten into the side valved harmonica yet, but would be interested in learning more as it might be good for playing some old country style blues tunes.
BC
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rbeetsme
1434 posts
Nov 30, 2013
6:50 AM
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I went to the party of the year last night, a big bluegrass blowout. Maybe 100 people in one house, almost all are steller players, most are in bands. Bluegrass heaven, lots of fiddle players in the mix. I used to play a lot of bluegrass, if I don't know the tune, I try to stand near the fiddle player. It's fun to duel with a good fiddle player. Last night I was jamming with a group of about 9 players, banjos, guitars, mandos, bass and a fiddle player. This group all knew each other and were the most spirited group playing. They launched into a tune in G that changed into an Em. I stood back and tried to play the Em in third position in D but didn't care for it so I grabbed an Am and jumped into the circle. The fiddle player gave me a break and I let it rip on my C harp and then pulled the Am out of my pocket and kept it going. The fiddle player just cracked up, I think she was wondering how I was going to handle that part. Loads of fun!
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Big I
7 posts
Dec 01, 2013
6:31 AM
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Wow. I didn't realize there was so much to learn about different harps. I am lip persing (did I say that right). I can not seem to get the tongue blocking thing down.
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